This year has been chock full of controversial issues on campus, but anyone who has delved into Dartmouth's history would be struck with a serious case of deja vu. Anytime a "new" issue comes to light, students and administrators spring into action and organize a forum. Often hosted at a fraternity, the events are given a provocative title and are lauded for "starting a campus dialogue" and "creating a bridge between different campus groups." While we seem to be talented at starting discussions, these conversations never lead to action or noticeable change. Dartmouth seems to suffer from institutional amnesia a year or two later, the exact same issues flare up again. So here is a timeline of forums, protests and controversies over the last 11 years, beginning with the extremely contentious Student Life Initiative.
February 1999: The Board of Trustees and former College President James Wright sent a letter to students days before Winter Carnival explaining plans for the Student Life Initiative, a set of five principles aimed at reforming student social and residential life. Student backlash to the Initiative erupted immediately, largely due to a principle calling for drastic restructuring of the Greek system which would, include the elimination of single-sex Greek houses. The night after the letter was sent, approximately 1,000 students gathered in front of the president's house to protest the Initiative and sing the alma mater. Many Winter Carnival parties were also cancelled in protest.
January 2000: The steering committee for the Student Life Initiative announced the specifics of its plans for the Greek system, including removing pledge period, renovating house basements into general purpose and study space areas, removing all taps systems and refrigeration units, moving rush to sophomore Winter, hiring non-student bartenders, developing a stricter definition of and penalties for hazing, and the elimination of the Coed Fraternity Sorority Council judicial system. Student response was markedly subdued compared to the reactions after the initial announcement of the Initiative.
April 2001: Students demonstrated in front of Parkhurst to air a variety of grievances, including a perceived lack of punishment for sexual assault and desire for increased administrative transparency and to suggest solutions for improving race and gender relations. After students left the demonstration to interrupt a Board of Trustees meeting, the administration scrambled to schedule a forum for students to discuss their complaints. A group of counter-protesters arrived to advocate for free speech because they believed the protesters were attempting to censor those who say potentially offensive things about women and minority racial groups. Later that day, about 350 students moved to Collis Commonground to address administrators and Trustees in an open forum setting.
November 2002: A panel called "Shut the Fuck Up" addressed sexual assault, gendered social spaces, the drinking culture at Dartmouth and perceived flaws in the Greek system. The six panelists spoke to a primarily female audience about gender and sexuality discrimination, as well as feeling uncomfortable in frat basements by responding to statements like "Men on campus say they would never send their daughters to Dartmouth" or "What forms does sexual harassment take on campus and have you ever encountered it?"
November 2002: Hundreds of students demonstrated in front of the houses of former Dean of the College James Larimore and former College President James Wright to protest Wright's announcement of the swimming and diving teams' elimination due to budget cuts. In January 2003, the administration announced the team would continue for at least another 10 seasons with funds raised by Dartmouth swimming alumni.
June 2005: The Board of Trustees lifted its ban on the creation of more single-sex Greek houses and the College moved rush back to sophomore Fall. Both changes were reversals of policies created under the Student Life Initiative in 2000. Under the Initiative, rush had been moved to sophomore Winter for 5 years.
October 2005: Alpha Delta fraternity hosted a forum called "Bitches in the Basement" to address the relationship between the Greek system and sexual assault. A panel of six students discussed how they see the Greek system playing a role in sexual assault. The forum was lauded for helping "to start a dialogue on a difficult issue," The Dartmouth previously reported.
November 2006: Several hundred students, staff and faculty members held a "Solidarity Against Hatred" rally in front of Dartmouth Hall in response to a controversial issue of The Dartmouth Review. The cover depicted a Native American holding a scalp and the title "The Natives are Getting Restless!"
May 2007: Students gathered at AD for a panel titled "Don't Yell Fag from the Porch" that discussed sexual identity at Dartmouth. Panelists talked about their experiences in the Greek system in an effort to encourage dialogue about sexuality on campus.
July 2007: Mentors Against Violence hosted a forum at Kappa Delta Epsilon sorority in response to two incidents of sexual assault at the College. A college-aged male had groped a 16-year-old female participant of the Junior Debate Workshop at Dartmouth beneath her skirt on the Green. The next night, a Dartmouth student had reported that a man in a car who appeared to be masturbating had been following her.
August 2007: Nearly 200 students gathered at Gamma Delta Chi fraternity for a panel on gender relations. The forum was held in response to an incident in which members of Theta Delta fraternity harassed members of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority as they entered Theta Delt. The men called the women "sluts," "whores" and "bitches" and threw objects at them as they waited at the back entrance. Panelists discussed basement dynamics, Greek stereotypes, self-respect and the role alcohol plays in relationships.
January 2008: Student Assembly Diversity and Community Affairs Committee and the Intercommunity Council hosted a forum to solicit student input about the formation of more gender-neutral social spaces on campus. Many of the 30 attendees favored the creation of more affinity housing.
January 2008: The same month, over 200 students marched from AZD to Parkhurst to petition for the creation of more gender-neutral and female-controlled social spaces on campus as well as to protest the decision to allow Beta to recruit new members in the fall. Beta was derecognized in 1996 and AZD began leasing their house, but upon Beta's rerecognition, AZD was forced to vacate the physical plant. Students stood on the Parkhurst lawn for 20 minutes and sang the alma mater before dispersing.
April 2010: Students Stand with Staff a campus group concerned with the effect layoffs would have on the Dartmouth and Upper Valley community held a weeklong series of "teach-ins" to inform students, faculty and Upper Valley residents about the announced layoff of 38 employees due to budget cuts and to voice their grievances.
May 2010: AD hosted a sexual assault forum, attended by students and College President Jim Yong Kim, to discuss ways to proactively deal with sexual assault. Kim stressed that he is not trying to attack the Greek system but to come up with ways to strengthen the sense of community on campus and prevent sexual assault.
